Why Musharraf's memoirs' Punjabi version of never saw the light of day

Islamabad, June 22 (ANI): The Punjabi version of Pervez Musharraf's much debated book 'In the Line of Fire' has remained an untold story, as it was caught in the firing-line of Pakistani politics' shifting loyalties, The Nation reports.

The story dates back to those days when former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi used to say that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid would get former President Pervez Musharraf elected ten times in uniform.

In 2007, Musharraf's 'In the Line of Fire' was selling like hot cakes in the national and international market, and Elahi decided that the book of his boss should be translated in Punjabi, and released an amount of money for the purpose while he was holding office.

"As per decided scheme of things, a Professor of Sargodha University had to translate the book with the title 'Baldian Bhanwan' (burning fires) while famous Ferozsons (Pvt) Limited had to carry the responsibility for publishing it," The Nation quoted sources, as saying.

The translation of Musharraf's book was still underway when the tenure of PML-Q government ended in November 2007, they added.

"Then the days changed and after humiliating defeat of PML-Q in February 2008 elections, Chaudhrys distanced themselves from Musharraf, particularly when the latter asked them to quit the central command of the party. Elahi withheld funds which he was supposed to release from his personal pocket for the translation and publishing of the Punjabi version of Musharraf's memoir," sources said.

With the resignation of Pervez Musharraf in August 2008, the chapter closed forever, they added.

Notably, Musharraf's book has been translated in Hindi and Tamil.(ANI)